As anyone who knows me can tell you, I love books. I’ve been reading since I was a little girl, and (much to no one’s surprise, I think) I’ve decided to study library science in college, with the intent to work with children in a library setting. I’ve worked in two different libraries since I was fifteen, and hopefully will work in them for the rest of my life.
I thought a good way to start off this blog would be to talk about my five favorite books–not necessarily the best books I’ve ever read, but my favorites nonetheless. Some of them are from my childhood, others are from more recently, but they are all books that I will read repeatedly when I need the comfort of a familiar novel on a rainy day.
1) The Lioness Rampant Quartet by Tamora Pierce — I started reading these books in the seventh grade, and without fail, I will re-read the entire series at least twice a year. The main character, Alanna, was the first real female heroine I was introduced to in fiction, and I hold a great deal of affection for her story. Alanna is a girl who wishes to become a knight, in a kingdom where only men are allowed to become warriors. She disguises herself as a boy and goes to the palace to earn her shield, and her adventures (and those of other characters in her world) span the course of these four books and beyond, into several more series of books. They’re not high literary content, but they are definitely amusing and I love them dearly.
2) Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand — Possibly one of the most controversial books I’ve read, if only for the deep divide between those that like the book and those who don’t. It certainly isn’t a light read, but I think it may be one of the more important books of the 20th century. I agree with a great many of the ideas in the book, and while I don’t follow her philosophy as devoutly as some, I do believe she had the right idea and wish more people would read the book and not dismiss it out of hand.
3) Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey — Speaking of heavy books–this one would certainly not fit that description. What it boils down to is a fantasy romance full of flowery prose, court intrigue, and a very clever re-imagining of Europe and world religions. And prostitutes. Don’t forget the prostitutes. This is my guilty pleasure book (not to be confused with Guilty Pleasures, the nightclub in the Anita Blake books–which I also, to my embarrassment, read frequently) and the second and third books are also excellent reads when you’re in the mood for silly romance.
4) The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling — Oh, I could go on and on about Harry Potter and the merits of a book series that got many people I knew to willingly pick up a book for the first time in years, but all I will say is that despite the insanity that surrounds the entire franchise, they’re a fun read and I can’t wait to see how Ms. Rowling finishes everything up in the last book.
Also, the Weasley Twins are awesome. Enough said.
5) Under the Black Flag: Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates by David Cordingly – I love history, and I’m continually fascinated by the differences between the myth and the reality of piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries. I blame Pirates of the Caribbean for starting it, and Master and Commander for making me fall in love with tall ships. This book was one of the first I ever read (that wasn’t a children’s book) about pirates, and I had trouble putting it down—it’s full of fascinating, well-presented information about the legends and realities of piracy through the ages, and for the only non-fiction book on my list, it certainly does an excellent job of keeping my interest for an afternoon.
There are many, many more books that could go on this list, but those are perhaps the ones that are brought up most frequently whenever someone asks me what I’m reading. And I’m always finding new books to add to that list, as I come across new authors and stories that catch my interest. But these five win the title of ‘favorite’ for the moment.